Vettel Still Optimistic of Title Chances

Sebastian Vettel has said that the Ferrari SF71-H is strong enough to not have to fear any of the remaining circuits on this year’s calendar.

With F1 heading into the final crunch races of the 2018 season, Ferrari & Vettel have faltered in recent rounds. After returning from the summer break with victory at Spa, Vettel’s error while racing Lewis Hamilton at Monza resulted in him finishing off the podium, while Singapore saw Hamilton rise to the occasion and dominate the event.

Singapore had been expected to be a much more competitive affair so, when Vettel finished over half a minute down on Hamilton after a poor tyre strategy, it suggests all the momentum in the title chase has switched to Mercedes.

“Lewis said he didn’t expect to come here [Singapore] gaining ten points, we probably didn’t come here expecting to lose ten points – but, having had the race that we had, I think there’s a full justification for losing those ten points and we take it,” Vettel told Formula1.com.

“Obviously, there is still a long way to go and a lot of points to score. I never believed that we had the fastest car by a big margin, as people said. I know that we have a very good car.”

“We started the season well and then we were about half a second behind in qualifying and it was crucial to get back, which we manage to – and then we had a bit of a rough time, but overall I think the speed is there but it’s a match in qualifying as much as in the race.”

While Vettel says he doesn’t believe the SF71-H is faster than the W09, he says that his car’s pliancy at different types of venue is a strength of theirs. Russia, Japan, America, Mexico, Brazil & Abu Dhabi are the remaining rounds – a wide range of circuits – and Vettel says Ferrari don’t need to approach any of them in the mindset of damage limitation: “Russia has been getting better for us in the last few years, so it should suit our car as well. I don’t think we have any tracks to fear that are coming.”

“Our car is working pretty much everywhere and that’s a strength of our car, so no need to be afraid of what’s coming.”

Vettel now trails Hamilton by 40 points in the Driver’s Championship.